Comparative
Table of Traditional Printmaking with ILL effects & Dangers with Substitute
safe methods
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S#
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TRADITIONAL METHOD
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ILL EFFECTS & DANGERS
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SUBSTITUTE SAFE METHOD
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1
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Etching
copper plates: nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, Dutch mordant, and ferric
chloride.
Etching
zinc plates: nitric Acid, ferric chloride
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Nitrogen
Dioxide poisoning.
damage
to eyes, lungs, nasal membranes, skin damage
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Electrolytic
Processes
Galvanograph
(Galv-etch and Galvon for etching). 'Bordeaux etch' electro-chemical solution
for zinc, aluminium, steel and copper plates
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2
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Hard,
soft ground: Smoked turpentine based wax and asphaltum grounds; turpentine
based wax and grease
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Irritation
of mucous membranes, Nausea, headaches, toxic or carcinogenic fumes when
heated, depression of the central nervous system.
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Insulating
ink Ground
relief
printing ink applied by soft roller - after drying as hard ground before
drying as soft ground
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3
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Aquatint:
powdered pine rosin; powdered asphaltum
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Rosin
dust allergy, toxic rosin fumes, carcinogenic asphaltum fumes. Headaches,
skin and eye irritation.
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Fractint,
salt Aquatint Grounding
With
relief printing ink, produced in press. (no aquatint box needed) Sugar lift
tint with ink ground
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4
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Stopping
out: methanol (methylated spirit) based varnish.
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Methanol
– Headaches skin and eye irritation
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Ethanol
(ethyl alcohol) based varnish: shellac flakes dissolved in rubbing or industrial ethyl alcohol. Acrylic varnish
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5
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Cleaning
of varnish or ground: methanol, turpentine, naphtha (white spirit, turpentine
substitute).
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Methanol
– Headaches skin and eye irritation-Irritation of mucous membranes,
depression of the central nervous system, skin damage; suspected kidney damage.
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Ethanol:
ethyl alcohol for
Cleaning
varnish, ink ground or Fractint. Vegetable Cleaning Agent (VCA) or cooking
oil for ink. Ecological 'white spirit substitute' (ester of vegetable oil). Vinegar
for hardened ink ground
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6
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Cleaning
inked plates or tools: turpentine, naphtha (white spirit).
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turpentine
and naphtha Irritation of mucous membranes, depression of central nervous
system, skin damage; suspected kidney damage
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VCA
or vegetable cleaning agent or cooking oil - followed by mild household detergent. Ethanol for dried ink. Acetone for hardened ink.
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7
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This comparative
Table is made by the references of Green print Handbook and nontoxic print website
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Very good. You have laid out the health risks and possible alternatives. The big question for you now is this I think: what problems are you researching that have not already been solved? One important aspect of the literature/ contextual review is identify some gaps in the existing research. My own feeling is that might not be research into new ways of safe printing but applying existing research in the context of Pakistani education. In that sense you might focus more on 1) the educational context (studio plans and teaching materials); and 2 demonstrating the potential of/ raising awareness of safe methods through your own work. Think about this and go back to your Initial Proposal and make any necessary changes.
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